Sermons on Divine Purpose:

James, Son Of Thunder

Contributed by Fran Van Hoven on Jul 2, 2007

Have you ever known someone whose aggressive, ambitious personality just rubbed you the wrong way? Have you known someone who was so self-seeking that you couldn’t help but hope something humiliating would happen to them,just to teach them a lesson?

James, Son of Thunder Matthew 10: 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:2-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Hidden Treasure, The Precious Pearl, The Dragnet And The Householder Series

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Jul 8, 2007

How do I really feel about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What is it worth to me? Do I really care about it all that much? Important questions, all.

The Smith House in Dahlonega, Georgia, has been sitting on a gold mine for more than a century. During renovation of the landmark hotel back in February of 2006, workers discovered the entrance to a four-foot wide hole under the concrete floor in the main dining room. The hole goes straight down ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Prayer Really Work Series

Contributed by Josh Reich on Jul 10, 2007

All of us at one point or another wonder if prayer works? Does God hear us? Do our prayers just hit the ceiling and bounce back?

Today, we are finishing our series A Search for what is real. We have been looking at what a real faith, a real spirituality looks like. Let me ask you something, have you ever asked the question, does prayer really work? Maybe you know someone who always seems to have their prayers answered and ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ten Commandments – Two Sides Of Honor Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Sep 20, 2007

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS – Two Sides of Honor

• Exodus 20:3-17 (NIV) [3] You shall have no other gods before me. [4] You shall not make for yourself an idol. . . [7] You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. . . [8] Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. . . [12] Honor your father and your mother. . . [13] You shall not ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:3-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Real Food Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 4, 2011

This sermon continues Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse as he attempts to weed out the curious from the commited followers. In this section he attempts to move the Jews from the temporary unsatisfying and temporal physical and religious food that they lived

Does anyone recognize this food item? Of course, it is a Happy Meal. By a show of hands, how many of you parents have fed your children one of these things? How many of you kids have ever eaten one of these things? We know that a lot of kids eat these because apparently over 2.5 million of them ...read more

Scripture: John 6:41-59

Denomination: Christian Church

The Parable Of Costly Discipleship: Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 9, 2011

Assessing the cost of discipleship come through stories of 1) Construction Discipleship (Luke 14:28–30) 2) Conflict Discipleship (Luke 14:31–32) and 3) Chattel Discipleship (Luke 14:33)

Canada’s first war in more than half a century ended at 11:18 a.m. local time Thursday at a spot about 300 metres away from where the first Canadian combat troops set foot in Kandahar on Jan. 19, 2002. Canadian troops--about 35,000 men and women have deployed to Afghanistan since late 2001--have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28-33

Denomination: Other

The Right Wisdom Series

Contributed by Peter Toy on Mar 26, 2013

What is true wisdom and which wisdom will we choose?

Which path will you choose? The passage this morning talks about wisdom. When the Bible speaks about wisdom, it’s talking about much more than just head knowledge, memorizing a set of facts. When the Bible speaks about wisdom it is describing a way of living that brings success, peace and ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Humility, The Cure For Interpersonal Conflict Series

Contributed by Peter Toy on Mar 26, 2013

How to diffuse interpersonal conflicts through humility

Humility is the cure for interpersonal conflict. The story is told of a Christian couple who were married for a number of years but they got into terrible fights. After one particularly intense argument, the husband stormed out of the house. The wife got on her knees and prayed, “O Lord, you know ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Why Me? Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 12, 2012

Don’t blame God in your disappointment. Instead, believe in Him and get back to work.

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.” The woman below replied, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Why Does God Allow Tragedy And Suffering?

Contributed by Lee Strobel on Jul 23, 2012

Lee Strobel presents a message to a Colorado church shortly after the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado.

It was the worst mass shooting in American history – 70 people shot by a gunman, 12 of them killed, while they were watching the midnight showing of a new movie just 21 miles from where we’re sitting. There are no words to describe the anguish being felt by those who are suffering today; our heart ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Denomination: *other

How Must We Love? Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Apr 11, 2012

“Why do you think I gave you my grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit?” My grace is sufficient, but sufficient for what? To keep you going forward in your mission in spite of insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. It’s not just a get to heave

You may be thinking, boy this series is sure a lot about what we must know, and must do, when do we get to some teaching about God’s love and grace. Well, part of me wants to say, we have had so much of that we have become mushy Christians who do very little for the Kingdom. Another part ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-31

The Year Of The Lord's Favor Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Dec 17, 2012

When the angels proclaimed the birth of Christ they brought tidings of great joy! Joy is better than happiness for it does not depend on the cirucmstances of life but rather the person of Christ!

The Year of the Lord’s Favor (2) - Isaiah 61 - December 16, 2012 As I begin this morning I want to invite you to take a moment to consider the first question in your sermon notes. That question asks you to complete this statement: “Happiness is ….” And then ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-6

Denomination: *other

The Great Wealth Of Contentment Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 17, 2013

I want my audience to become very conscious of the effects of covetousness and to replace it with contentment

I was doing OK. Really, I was. Life was pretty good. But then, I heard that if I want to feel right, I need to get a Bowflex. I don’t have a Bowflex, so, I suddenly realize I’m not as healthy as I should be. I can’t be. That guy in the ad has better abs than I do – ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Final Destinations Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jan 21, 2013

A study in the Gospel of Matthew 10: 27 – 31

Matthew 10: 27 – 31 Final Destinations 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:27-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Jesus' Upside-Down Kingdom Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 12, 2013

In the kingdom of God, the unlovely are loved and the untouchable are touched.

Jesus’ Upside Down Kingdom Mark 1:40-45 Rev. Brian Bill 4/14/13 [Note: Elements of this introduction come from a sermon called “From Leprosy to Life” by John Mayes]. He knew something was wrong...very wrong. But he hoped that if he waited long enough, it would just go away. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:40-45, Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: Baptist